Frederick d



' (No Model.)

P. 1). OWEN. REAR DRIVING SAFETY BICYCLE.

' No. 589,852. Patented Sept. 14,1897.

:1 I5 PETERS co. mo1a-uwo.. WASMNEYON c c UNITED STATES PATENT rEicE.

FREDERICK I). OlVEN, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

REAR-DRIVING SIAFETY-BIHCYCLE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,852, datedSeptember 14, 1897.

Application filedd'nly 3,1895. Serial No. 564,911; (No model.)

To who'll 11b may concern.

Be it known that l, FREDERICK D. OWEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at ashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain newand usefullmprovements in Rear- Driving Safety-bicycles; and I doherebydeclare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to rear'driving safety-bicycles, and moreparticularly to the construction and assemblage of the rear framemembers thereof.

In bicycles of this class as at present constructed the shaft-hanger isbrazed or otherwise fixed to or held rigidly at or near the junction ofthe lower front and rear frame members and the tension of the drivingchain or device is regulated by the forward or rearward adjustment ofthe rear or driving wheel axle. Provision has also recently been made inthis class of wheels for releasing and taking out the rear axle andwheel from the rear frame without separating the chain and for adjustingthe tension of the chain without disturbing the adjustment of therearwheel bearings, as described in my United States Patent No. 535,261,issued March 5, 1895.

The object of my presentinvention is to simplify the construction ofthis class of wheels at the junction of the rear forks and rearbrace-rods, thereby facilitating adjustments and also reducing the costof production, as well as reducing weight of the parts at this point.

To this end the invention consists in the matters hereinafter describedin detail, and then set forth in. the claims at the close of thisspecification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation oneconstruction of parts embodyinginy present invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the rear forks, brace-rods, and rear-wheel axle. Fig. 3 isa section on line 2 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. :h is a side elevation showing amodification of the preceding figures. Fig. 5 is a section thereof.Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate modifications of the devices shown in Figs. land 5.

In carrying out my present invention the usual rear fork A and.brace-rods B are so constructed and arranged with relation to each otheras to require but one clamp-nut or binding-nut O to secure together therear forks, bracerods, and rear-wheel axle I), thus materially lesseningthe cost of manufacture, as well as lightening the structure andsimplifying the manipulations necessary to effect an adjustment of thedriving-chain or an adj ustment of the rearwheel hearings or the releaseand removal of the rear wheel and axle.

To give a clearer nnderstandin g of the present invention, I haveillustrated different spe cific constructions or arrangements of theparts by which the invention can be carried into practical effect, all,however, involving the principle of the employment of a. single nut toadjustably secure together the rear ends of the rear forks andbrace-rods and the rear-wheel axle.

The ends of the rear forks A and the bracerods B may be finished in anyusual or preferred m annerthat is to say, they maybe of tubing pressedflat and appropriately shaped or may be provided withappropriatelyshaped forged ends or fittings or steel stampings appliedthereto by brazing or other suitable processes.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the rear fork A has sleeved and brazedthereon a fork end A, consisting of a short length of tubing, the rearend of which is flattened. The lower end of the bracerod B is split orbifurcated to straddle or embrace the flattened fork end A, (see Fig.3,) the lower extremity of the legs of said bifurcated end beingprovided with transverse slots 11 to receive the axle D of the rearwheel, whereby the rear fork end and brace-rod may be clamped tightlybetween the rear-wheel cone D and axle-nut 0, thus locking therear-wheel bearings and rear frame members by a single nut and effectinga material saving in material, labor of construction, and weight.

The extremities of the bifurcatedpart of the brace-rod B are preferablyprovided with ening the axle-nut O the cone I) may be rotated to adjustthe wheel-bearings, or the brace-rod B may he moved backward or forwardupon the fork end to adjust the tension of the chain, or the rear axlemay be dropped from the slots 1), thus removing the wheel from the framc. I prefer to serrate or roughen the rear-fork end either at bottomor top or sides, as indicated, to guard against the ac cidental slippingof the parts under unusual strains.

A slightly-modified construction is illustrated in Figs. at and '5,wherein the fork end A is provided with a known form of elongated slota, in the lower wall of which, near its front end, is formed a gap oropening a of a width sufficient to permit of the passage of therear-wheel axle to and from the elongated adjusting-slot a near itsforward end.

in order that the wheel may be removed from or replaced in the framewithout disconnecting the chain-links. The lower end of the brace-rod Bin these figures is provided with a foot B, having a transverse slot Z)for the reception of the wheel axle, as before de scribed, said footbeing extended at one side of said slot and provided with a projectionto engage or embrace the fork end A and prevent the accidentaldisconnection of the fork and brace-rod when the clamp-nut is removed.Ihe projectionshown in Figs. 4 and 5 for attaining this end consists ofa headed bolt b permanently riveted to the extension of the foot B anddesigned to fit snugly but movahly within the elongated adj usting-slota of the fork end. I

To assemble the fork and brace-rods, the bolt Z2 is passed upwardthrough the gap a of the fork end and then moved forward in the slot ato bring the slot 1) of the brace-rod to register With said gap a sothat the wheelaxle may be passed upward through said gap and be thenmoved, together with the bracerod, to such position within the slot C6as to secure the desired adjustment of the drivingchain. The parts arethen clamped tightly together by the clamp or axle nut C.

In Fig. (3 in lieu of the riveted bolt b the metal of the extension ispunched or pressed in to form a projection comprising two burs b theinner ends of which are bent down over a former, so that when thebrace-rod and fork end are in proper position the burs b of thebrace-rod will project through the slot of the fork end and prevent aseparation of these parts in the same manner as already described withrelation to the headed bolt b In Fig. '7 the same result is attained bymaking the extension of the foot 15 slightly wider and bending its upperand lower edges 11 to em brace the fork end, as shown.

The parts lettered b 1), and b are described and illustrated asalternatives and are not essential to the operativeness of the devicesherein described, but render the manipulations forad j ustment, 850.,more simple and expeditious to those unfamiliarwith mechanical devices,and are therefore deemed important when considering the commercial valueor success of this invention.

AnywelL-kuown chain-ad j ustin gdevice may be used in conjunction withthe fork ends herein shown.

IVhat I claim is 1. In a rear-driving safety-bicycle having a fixedcrank-shaft, adjustable rear axle, and operative connectingdevices,thecombination of the rear forks, brace-rods provided at their lower endswith open-ended slots to receive the axle and with projectionsconstituting a permanent but normally free-sliding connection with therear forks, and a single nut to clamp the rear forks and brace-rodrigidly to each other and to the rearaxle, substantially as described.

2. In arear-driving safetybieycle, the coinbiuation of the rear forkshaving longitudinal slots open at their forward ends, bracerods providedat their lower ends with openended slots arranged to intersect the slotsof the forks and receive the rear axle, nuts to clamp the rear forks,brace-rod and rear axle together, and means connected to the bracerodsto engage the rear forks and constitute a sliding connection betweenthem, substantially as described.

In a rear-driving safety-bicycle, the combination of the rear forks, andthe brace-rods pivoted at their upper ends and provided at their lowerends with projections constituting normally free-sliding connectionswith the rear forks, and with open-ended slots so proportioned as toreceive the rear axle and permit of the rigid clamping of saidbrace-rods and rear forks between the cone and axle-nut of said axle,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK D. OIVEN.

\Vitnesses:

O. A. NEALE, THOMAS A. HARRIS.

